Since Daniel Davis couldn't recall the exact location of the formation trapping Ouyang Miss in her dream, he didn't dwell on it further. Based on the plot, the formation would inevitably appear later. While it might reveal a heartbreaking truth to Ouyang Miss, as the person directly involved, she had the right to know the truth.
"Little Uncle-Master, do you know if anyone in the Qionghua Sect specializes in geomancy or formations?" Daniel asked Murong Ziying after finishing another of his lessons.
Thanks to Han Lingsha's suggestion, Daniel also began addressing Murong Ziying as "Little Uncle-Master," following her and Yun Tianhe's lead. Only Liu Mengli still formally referred to him as "Uncle-Master."
"What are you asking this for? Cultivators must not harbor distractions. You're to spend the day reflecting in the Reflection Valley," Murong Ziying replied sternly upon hearing Daniel's question.
"Little Uncle-Master, I'm asking to save someone." Daniel wasn't bothered by being sent to the Reflection Valley. While most Qionghua disciples, including Yun Tianhe, feared it as if it were a tiger's den, Daniel saw it as a quiet and excellent place for cultivation.
Besides, the Reflection Valley wasn't like being punished to face a blank wall. The scenery there was quite pleasant.
Thinking this, Daniel quickly explained the strange geomantic anomaly surrounding the tomb of the King of Huainan. Oddly enough, after arriving at the Qionghua Sect, Yun Tianhe, Han Lingsha, and Liu Mengli seemed to have completely forgotten about this matter.
"Oh no! I completely forgot about that. Mengli, I'm so sorry!" Han Lingsha exclaimed in shock upon hearing Daniel's words. She immediately apologized to Liu Mengli for having forgotten about the matter while preoccupied with seeking immortality.
"Lingsha, there's no need to apologize. In truth, I nearly forgot about it myself. Thank you, Daniel," Liu Mengli said with a bow of gratitude.
For someone like Liu Mengli, it was quite uncharacteristic to forget something so important, especially since it concerned a location near Shouyang County. However, after joining the Qionghua Sect, her recurring nightmares and the strange memories that surfaced in her mind had pushed the matter to the back of her mind.
"You can seek out Senior Brother Yuanyu for this matter. But once it's resolved, you still need to spend a day in the Reflection Valley," Murong Ziying instructed.
"Please rest assured, Little Uncle-Master. I will go to the Reflection Valley immediately after this," Daniel promised.
"You're looking for Senior Brother Yuanyu? I know where he is. What do you need him for?"
While on their way to find Yuanyu, the group ran into Huai Shuo and Xuanji. After Xuanji's curious questioning, Han Lingsha briefly explained the situation.
"Vengeful spirits? Hmm, I don't think I've ever seen one before. Senior Brother, let's go with them!" Xuanji, intrigued by the mention of the King of Huainan's tomb possibly being haunted, immediately perked up. Though she had defeated many demons as a Qionghua disciple, she had never encountered a ghost.
In the world of Legend of Sword and Fairy, demons, ghosts, and devils all existed, but encounters with ghosts and devils were far rarer than with demons.
"A geomantic formation, is it? Let's go take a look."
Yuanyu was one of the senior disciples of the Qionghua Sect. Although his actual age was around sixty or seventy, thanks to his cultivation, he looked no older than thirty or forty. After all, while the Qionghua Sect couldn't grant true immortality, extending one's lifespan and maintaining youth were quite achievable.
Despite his seniority, Yuanyu didn't have much presence in the sect, largely because the Qionghua Sect wasn't particularly skilled in formations. The grand protective formation covering the sect likely came from the Nine Heavens Goddess herself, passed down to the sect's founder.
This assumption made sense to Daniel, as the sect's current knowledge of formations didn't seem sufficient to create such a powerful one.
It was reminiscent of Mount Shu's Demon-Sealing Tower. While the tower itself was built by humans, its ability to truly seal demons came from a formation passed down from the Celestial Realm. The tower's guardian, Zhenyu Mingwang, was once a disciple of Mount Shu who later ascended to immortality—but it was an "ascension" that was more akin to imprisonment, as he was permanently bound to guard the tower.
After reporting their intentions to the sect, the group of seven set out on their swords toward the tomb of the King of Huainan. Typically, the Qionghua Sect didn't interfere with disciples leaving the sect for short periods, except in cases of demon extermination missions. Such missions required reporting to prevent disciples from encountering dangers they couldn't handle. If a disciple didn't return within the allotted time, the sect would send someone to search for them—or at the very least, avenge them.
For example, Huai Shuo and Xuanji had nearly died on one of these missions when a demon's backlash sealed their spiritual energy, leaving them unable to fly. That was how they had ended up meeting Yun Tianhe and the others near Chaohu Lake.
"So, this is a ghost? Ugh, it looks even worse than a demon," Xuanji remarked with a look of disdain as she encountered a vengeful spirit with a pitch-black body and a twisted face. Without hesitation, she dispatched it with her sword techniques, while Huai Shuo faithfully acted as her bodyguard.
Meanwhile, Daniel and the others split into two groups. Yun Tianhe and Han Lingsha formed one team, while Daniel and Liu Mengli formed the other, clearing out the vengeful spirits in the tomb. The group's recent progress in cultivation was evident, especially for Yun Tianhe, Han Lingsha, and Liu Mengli, who now easily dispatched the spirits without breaking a sweat.
Once the spirits were dealt with, Yuanyu set up a series of talismans throughout the tomb, creating a formation that disrupted the spiritual energy in the area. Over time, this would neutralize the tomb's geomantic properties, preventing any further vengeful spirits from forming.
With the matter resolved, the group decided to stop by the Yangchun Inn in Shouyang County. Since they were already in the area, Yun Tianhe and Liu Mengli took the opportunity to visit the Liu residence. This time, only the two of them went; Daniel and Han Lingsha stayed behind.
After Yun Tianhe and Liu Mengli returned from the Liu residence, the group flew back to the Qionghua Sect. Huai Shuo and Xuanji reported the completion of their mission, while Liu Mengli, perhaps uplifted by her visit home, seemed to be in much better spirits.
At this time, Daniel was making his way to the Reflection Valley. He had long heard of its reputation and was finally about to see it for himself.
"If I were to build a wooden cabin here, this would make for a great place to live in seclusion," Daniel thought as he arrived and settled on a stone platform.
"The Qionghua Sect is so rich that they didn't even bother with the treasures in the tomb."
Unlike Yuanyu and the others, Daniel had quietly taken the large alchemy furnace from the tomb after the mission was completed. Just as he was about to begin cultivating, a familiar voice called out behind him.
"Hey, what are you doing here? Did you make Little Ziying mad?"
Turning around, Daniel saw someone he recognized—Su Xin. She was now dressed in the Qionghua Sect's uniform, which made her look even more elegant than when they had first met at the inn.
"So, you're part of the Qionghua Sect?" Daniel wasn't too surprised by Su Xin's appearance.
"Su Xin, you're the Sect Master's senior sister, aren't you? Does that mean I should call you 'Grandmaster-Aunt' or something?" Daniel teased. After all, if Murong Ziying was his Uncle-Master, and Su Xin was Murong Ziying's senior, the title would fit.
"Don't make me sound so old. Just call me by my name," Su Xin replied as she casually sat on another stone platform.
"This is supposed to be a place for reflection. Surely you aren't here to reflect on your actions?" Daniel asked, knowing that as one of the Sect Master's peers, Su Xin held a high status within the sect. Only two secluded elders outranked her in seniority.
"I'm wondering if coming back here was a mistake," Su Xin said with a sigh as she lit her pipe with a simple fire-elemental technique.
The two continued their conversation, delving into Su Xin's reasons for returning to the sect and her disillusionment with how Su Yao had changed over the years. The warmth and care Su Yao had once shown as a senior sister were now gone, replaced by a cold and distant demeanor.
"Why don't you just leave if you don't want to stay?" Daniel asked, hoping to dissuade Su Xin from staying in the Qionghua Sect, especially with the impending confrontation with the Demon Realm.
"And why are you still here? I remember you saying you only wanted to learn sword flight for travel," Su Xin countered, shifting the topic.
Daniel chuckled and replied, "Well, since I'm here, I might as well learn more. By the way, do you know anything about Yun Tianqing? We're mainly here to help his son, Yun Tianhe, learn about him."
"Yun Tianqing… So that kid Yun Tianhe is his son? No wonder he felt familiar, though he's nothing like Senior Brother Tianqing," Su Xin said with a nostalgic smile before recounting stories of Yun Tianqing's mischievous and carefree nature, which starkly contrasted with Yun Tianhe's demeanor.
As the conversation ended, Su Xin left, leaving Daniel with the realization that she might hold the key to revealing Su Yao and Xuan Xiao's plans to Yun Tianhe and the others. It would be a difficult task, especially with someone like Murong Ziying, who might not oppose the Qionghua Sect's use of the Demon Realm for their ascension plan. But if Daniel had to choose between the sect and his Little Uncle-Master, the choice was clear: Murong Ziying.
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